Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Hands-on [Images]

Xiaomi has pretty much captured the entry-level budget and midrange smartphone market, the latest release of its 5th generation Redmi Note series are unveiled yesterday at an event held in Delhi. The Redmi Note 5 is the successor to the last year’s Redmi Note 4 and it brings a number of features to it. Unlike the Redmi Note 5 Pro which has been launched alongside, the Redmi Note 5 is a small upgrade starting with its large 5.99-inch FullView 18:9 screen, an ergonomic design, a front LED selfie light.

The most obvious you’ll see in the design is its large 5.99-inch screen that’s with 18:9 aspect ratio and higher Full HD+ resolution (2160 x 1080 pixels). The bezels are minimized, turns out to be smaller than its previous generations, the display looks bigger and better. The bottom area doesn’t carry capacitive touch keys instead utilizes the on-screen navigation buttons

Staring at the screen, the corners are noticeably curved, there’s a 2.5D curved glass on top. It boasts a metallic unibody with tapered edges and sleek back. The design hasn’t changed anything significant, the overall looks are still of Redmi Note 4, but it feels better than before.

The specifications seem stagnant here, there’s no change in the processor when compared to the Redmi Note 4. It is still powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa-core SoC with Adreno 506 GPU, and the battery size is slightly degraded (4,000 mAh on Redmi Note 5 versus the 4,100 mAh on the Redmi Note 4).

Xiaomi manufactured the Redmi Note 5 in two variants. The 16 GB storage with 2 GB RAM variant is now eliminated which left us only two variants – 32 GB storage with 3 GB RAM and 64 GB storage with 4 GB RAM. The 32 GB variant starts at ₹9,999 whereas the 64 GB storage variant is priced at ₹11,999.

The camera on the phone also appears to be identical to the predecessor, the only change is the addition of the front LED selfie light. On the back, the main camera is of 12 MP with 1.25 μm sensor and f/2.2 aperture aided by a single LED flash. On the front, there is a 5 MP camera with LED selfie light for low-light selfies.

It’s 2018, people would now expect a USB type-C at least, several phones have started moving to the new USB standard including the Xiaomi’s Mi A1 which is priced under ₹15,000. The sides offer a power button and volume buttons on the right, hybrid SIM tray on the left, micro USB port at the bottom with loudspeakers and a microphone, and an IR Blaster at the top alongside 3.5 mm earphones/headphones port.

On the software side, the Redmi Note 5 would have a greater advantage with the Oreo-out-of-the-box update, but sadly, it is still based on Android N with MIUI 9 on top. Phones in this range have started offering Android Oreo, Honor 9 Lite to name one.

If you are a Redmi Note 4 owner, would you be willing to upgrade to the new Redmi Note 5? Share your replies in the comments below, until then we will be reviewing the device soon.